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Nigerian Troops inflict heavy casualties on Boko Haram

Zainab Sa'id
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The troops of 28 Task Force Brigade of Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE have inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) that attempted to attack Askira Uba in Borno State on the 12th of December 2020.

A statement from the Deputy Director Army Public Relations 7 Division Maiduguri, Colonel Ado Isa said the terrorists were suspected to have come from Sambisa Forest, mounted on over 15 gun trucks and approached the town from different directions simultaneously.

“Troops responded and engaged the criminals with superior firepower and the terrorists suffered huge losses both in men, materials and equipment.” Colonel Ado Isa said.

Colonel Isa further said the troops captured 4 gun trucks from the criminals while some additional gun trucks were also destroyed by the Air Task Force that responded swiftly. Scores of the terrorists were killed and over 20 terrorists dead bodies were counted.

Additionally, 3 boxer motorcycles, 3 Anti Aircraft Guns, 2 PKT Machine Guns, 10 AK 47 Rifles and 13 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bombs, as well as a large cache of ammunition and other weapons, were captured from the terrorists among others. One soldier paid the supreme sacrifice and two others were wounded during the encounter and are responding to treatment.

Colonel Ado Isa also reiterated the commitment of the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai to continue in sustaining the aggressive, offensive posture to rid the entire North East of remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals, rapists and marauders.

 

 

Lagos to establish fish Centre to boost production

Zainab Sa'id
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Lagos State Governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu, says the State Government is to establish the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (L.A.C.E) in collaboration with a private sector investor in order to boost fish production in the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave this indication at the Y2020 edition of the Lagos Seafood Festival held at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He explained that the Centre is expected to generate no fewer than 5,000 smallholder fish farms which would, in turn, create about 1,000 indirect jobs during the construction phase and another 500 direct jobs opportunities for people that would be engaged at different phases of the project.

According to the Governor, the Project includes the establishment of a 50million fish hatchery facility, projected 2000 tons per annum table sized fish production schedule, 24,000 tons per annum fish feed mill as well as a 20000 ton-per-annum fish and seafood processing centre.

The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat noted that the present supply of fish and other seafood products in the State was insufficient to meet the fish and seafood demands of Lagosians hence the need to have a private sector driven aquaculture centre.

“We estimated the present supply of fish and other seafood at 174,553 tons per annum to be insufficient for Lagosians; therefore we have collaborated with a Private Sector Investor on the establishment of the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence to boost fish production.

“This project includes the establishment of a 50 million fish hatchery facility, projected 2000 tons per annum table sized fish production schedule, 24000 tons per annum fish feed mill and a 20000 tons per annum fish and seafood processing centre.

“The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence is expected to generate about 5000 smallholder fish farms which should create 1000 indirect jobs during the construction phase and 500 direct job opportunities for people that would be engaged at different phases of the project,” Sanwo-Olu asserted.

Supply deficit

The Governor maintained that the reality is that the State with a population of more than 22 million and a consumer demand for fish and other seafood of 374,000 tons annually while supply hovers around 155, 262 tons per annum, it is important that Lagosians key into and benefit from the value chain attached to the aquatic or fisheries business sector in order to fill the supply deficit.

Sanwo-Olu, however, stressed that the Festival would be quite unique next year as the State Government would be employing the use of the deep-sea trawling in order to capture the big fishes in the deeper sea in Lagos.

“Next year by the grace of God, we will engage in the deep-sea trawling that allows us to go inner and get the bigger fishes. That along with our other interventions would allow us to employ close to 10,000 youths in the five divisions of the State” he said.

Seafood festival

The Governor explained that an occasion such as the Lagos Seafood Festival is an opportunity for Lagosians to tap into the agriculture value chain in the fish and seafood sector particularly as the nation seeks to diversify its economy for the benefit of the people

He added that the Lagos Seafood Festival has become a pedestal for talented Lagosians to display their culinary skills in preparing salivating dishes with the abundant aquatic species from the environment.

“Fish or seafood is low in cholesterol when compared with beef consumption and they have a distinct taste that makes food more desirable and very palatable to the consumer. The Lagos Seafood Festival has become a pedestal for talented Lagosians to display their culinary skills in preparing salivating dishes with the abundant aquatic species from the environment.

“An occasion such as the Lagos Seafood Festival gives us the opportunity to tap into the agriculture value chain in the fish and seafood sector as we seek to diversify our economy for the benefit of our people,” the Governor opined.

According to him, the year 2020 had presented everyone with challenges that brought out the depth and resilience of character as a people hence the Seafood Festival was a fitting occasion to celebrate the resilient spirit of the people even as we all look forward to a prosperous and fulfilling Year 2021.

“Visitors to Lagos State over the years can attest to the memorable and unforgettable taste of “Imooyo” stew that is indigenous to Lagos Island. However, we have all seen or tasted various palatable dishes that have been prepared with fish and other seafood at previous editions of the Seafood Festival.

“I can assure you that the 2020 edition will present more delicious presentations for you to enjoy from the wide array of participants at the various stands,” the Governor averred.

Fish and Wealth

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya stressed that the contribution of the fisheries value chain to the nation’s socio-economic wealth could not be over-emphasized particularly against the background of employment creation, provision of valuable animal protein, rural development and foreign exchange inflow through the export of shrimps, smoked fish and other fish products.

She explained that in 2019 alone, 5,000 tonnes of seafood valued at over N25Billion were exported by operators in Nigeria.

According to her: “It is in recognition of this fact, that the State Government is currently implementing various projects in the fisheries ecosystem that will drive increased food production and socio-economic transformation of the rural areas of the State.

“These projects include the establishment of Fish Farm Estate Projects, provision of fishing inputs to fishermen in the State; establishment of the Cage culture System, as well as the establishment of Farmers’ Mart to serve as a marketing centre for agriculture products.”

The Commissioner noted that the Festival had an array of stands ranging from fresh and processed seafood such as croaker, grunter, red snapper and tiger prawns, seafood culinary service providers and vendors of assorted beverages to a family fun park and kiddies area.

Kano State anti-corruption agency attributes success to non-interference

Zainab Sa'id
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The Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC), Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, has attributed the success recorded by the agency in its activities to non-interference by the state government, powerful institutions and individuals.

He made the statement at the public presentation of the Kano State anti-corruption strategy document and commissioning of the state-owned anti-corruption institute.

He said the agency recovered over 100 million naira from January to December 2020 which is a great success.

“Nobody is interfering or meddling with our activities, that is why we are having these remarkable achievements. We thank the Government and everybody for giving us a level playing field.

“This is why we are far ahead of some federal anti-graft agency, by way of operations,” Rimin-Gado said.

He said the agency has established anti-corruption units in all the 44 local government areas of the state, as part of the campaign against corruption and bringing Justice to the grassroots.

He said the institute will be used for training and public enlightenment against corruption and will be open for use by other states and African countries.

The Kano State Governor, Dr Umar Ganduje represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Nasiru Gawuna said the regime is providing every opportunity in the fight against corruption in the state.

“Corruption is like cancer or cankerworm that is fast eating into the fabrics of the society, which must be fought headlong,” he said.

He said the state has embarked in so many activities to help fight corruption which includes, the commissioning of the Anti-Corruption Institute which was established to assist in training the staff of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission (PCACC) and also to educate the public and civil servants on the menace of anti-corruption.

“This is in addition to the new anti-corruption strategy documents produced and aimed at prevention of corruption, public engagement and ethical reorientation, enforcement and sanctions, recovery and management of the proceed of corruption and allied offences,” Ganduje said.

He said the document is for utilisation by all stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the State. He also reiterated the commitment of his government to keep on supporting the PCACC in its continuous war against corruption.

Post-ceasefire clashes – Armenia, Azerbaijan blame each other

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Clashes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region have killed four Azeri servicemen in recent weeks, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said on Sunday, in the first report of casualties since a Russian-brokered ceasefire accord.

Separately, authorities in Armenia said six of their servicemen had been wounded in what they described as an Azeri military offensive that took place on Saturday.

The Baku government said the clashes, which also left two Azeri servicemen wounded, had taken place in an area that fell under its control when the fighting ended on Nov. 10 and territory in Nagorno-Karabakh previously controlled by ethnic Armenians was handed over to Azerbaijan.

It said the military operation on Friday and Saturday aimed to destroy or drive out enemy forces responsible for the deadly attacks on Azeri servicemen.

Yerevan said Armenian forces had repelled attempted intrusions into territories supposed to remain under the control of the rebel province’s government, namely the Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages.

“The provocations of Azerbaijan continued today in the direction of the villages of Mets Shen and Hin Shen in the Hadrut region,” Armenia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

In another statement, Armenia’s defence ministry said: “negotiations between Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani servicemen are underway to resolve the situation in Hadrut and ensure the return of the parties to their former positions”.

Russian peacekeepers deployed in the conflict area have reported no major clashes but said at the weekend there had been one ceasefire violation.

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service said that “unfounded accusations against the Azeri side and the Russian peacekeepers by some Armenian leaders and media” were unacceptable.

The Armenian foreign ministry said Russian forces were not deployed in the area where the clashes broke out.

Sam Nda-Isaiah was a patriot and a bridge-builder – FCT Minister

Zainab Sa'id
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The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has expressed sadness over the death of the Chairman and Founder of Leadership Newspaper Group, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Bello described the late publisher and politician as an epitome of hard work and patriotism, a bridge-builder and a firm believer in the unity of Nigeria.

In the words of Malam Bello: “Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, was an epitome of hard work, a firm believer in the unity of Nigeria and a great patriot. Although a pharmacist by training, through hard work and commitment to excellence, he founded the Leadership Group which has in its stable one of Nigeria’s foremost and most influential newspapers.”

The Minister also noted that as a resident of Abuja, whose business concerns were located in the nation’s capital, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah contributed immensely to the development of the FCT.

While praying for the repose of his soul, Bello prayed that the Almighty will grant his entire family and the Leadership Group the strength to bear the loss.

U20 AFCON, World Cup: Flying Eagles crash out

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Flying Eagles have crashed out of the U20 AFCON Qualifiers WAFU B in Benin – and by extension both next year’s U20 AFCON in Mauritania and the U20 World Cup in Indonesia – after Ghana failed to beat Cote d’Ivoire to give them a much-needed lifeline today.

Nigeria needed arch-rivals Ghana to beat the Ivorians by at least 2-0 so that they could sneak into the semifinals as Group B runners-up with a point.

However, it was not to be as Ghana fell 1-0 to the Ivorians, who thus finished as group winners, while the Black Satellites finished as runners-up.

Cote d’Ivoire will now take on Group A runners-up Niger, while Ghana tackle Burkina Faso in the other semifinal of the qualifying tournament.

The Flying Eagles have alleged a gang-up to stop them at the WAFU B qualifiers.

On Wednesday before their crucial Group B clash against Ghana, two players, Chisom Orji and Farayola Olawale, were reported to have turned in Coronavirus positive results and so had to be dropped.

However, both players as well as the rest of the squad all tested negative in another round of tests conducted two days later.

Joshua to Fury ” Bring it on” after defeating Pulev

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Anthony Joshua says he welcomes “the challenge” of facing Tyson Fury after comfortably beating Kubrat Pulev in London’s Wembley Arena on Saturday.

 

The heavyweight champion produced a devastating knockout in the ninth round to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA belts but attention quickly turned to the possibility of a unification bout with Fury.
Joshua seemed reluctant to talk about his rival at first but fans roared with approval when asked if they’d like to see the two face off.
“I started this game in 2013. I’ve been chasing all the belts. I’ve been dealing with mandatories,” Joshua said when asked about a potential fight.
“Of course I want the challenge. It’s not about the opponent, it’s about the legacy and the belt.
“Whoever has got the belt, I would love to compete with them. If that is Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury. It’s no big deal.
“It’s one fight at a time, picking them off one by one. That’s all it’s about for me. I’ve got to stay focused.”
Anthony Joshua reacts to victory over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday.

Anthony Joshua reacts to victory over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday.

‘The biggest fight in boxing’

Fury is the current WBC champion and took to social media to call out Joshua after the fight, predicting he’d stop the 31-year-old within three rounds.
“I want the fight. I want the fight next. I will knock him out inside three rounds,” he said in a video posted to Twitter.
The reaction from the 1,000 spectators allowed into Wembley Arena on Saturday showed there is a huge appetite for the fight.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, assured it would happen next year.
“Starting from tomorrow, we make the Tyson Fury fight straight away,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s the only fight to be made in boxing. It’s the biggest fight in boxing. It’s the biggest fight in British boxing history.”
In June, Hearn had said that both fighters had agreed terms, though specific dates and venues were still to be decided.
A limited number of fans (1,000) watched on as Joshua beat Pulev.

A limited number of fans (1,000) watched on as Joshua beat Pulev.

Devastating finish

Joshua shook off the lockdown rust with a comfortable victory over his resilient opponent on Saturday.
After a cagey start, Pulev faced the count twice in the third round as Joshua connected with a barrage of shots.
The Bulgarian, who has now lost just twice in his career, continued to smile at Joshua despite being pummeled by the champion and deserves credit for taking the fight as far as he did.
But Joshua, who deployed his trademark uppercut to good effect throughout, eventually wore his opponent down and knocked him out in the ninth round with a devastating straight right hand.
Joshua has now won 24 out of his 25 fights, with his only loss coming against Andy Ruiz in 2019.

Director-General PGF urges APC members to embrace reform

Zainab Sa'id
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Members of Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, have been called on to embrace political reform in the party and shun the prevailing conventional political behaviour in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, PGF, Mr Salihu Lukman who made the call in a press statement released in Abuja said reform would strengthen the APC.

According to Lukman, the prevailing conventional political behaviour in Nigeria is when political office holders control structures of the party. He said reforms will return control of party structure back to the members.

“The conventional approach in Nigeria is that individual politicians aspiring for political offices recruit party members who are their loyalists. Party leaders at different levels emerge from the members who are loyal to the politician, who will, in turn, become the candidate of the party for election.

“Being in control of the structures of the party, the politician, who is the candidate of the party and eventually elected representative or leader of the party will be responsible for funding the party, as well as party administration, including recruitment of party personnel.

“From all indications, the seductiveness of conventional politics creates a strong opposition to reforms within parties. It is the determinant of success or failure in capacities of political parties to produce the desired change citizens expect,” he said.

The PGF DG also advised the APC Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni to shun exchanging words with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and rather focus on communicating its activities on party building to the public.

Mr Lukman further urged APC members to support the Caretaker Committee in its efforts at building the party through membership registration and revalidation amongst others.

“Instead of some of the dry press releases throwing banters at PDP leaders who are struggling to bounce back to pollical reckoning, the messages from the Caretaker Committee and the party should be about rebuilding the party.

“There is the need to take every step necessary to ensure that the reform going on in APC strengthen internal democracy within the party. This will require that all activities of membership registration/revalidation, congresses and national convention are carefully planned.

“To achieve this will require that members of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee are taking the necessary steps to strengthen the capacity of the APC National Secretariat to implement all decisions. This is largely about taking responsibility and communicating decisions to party members and the public.

“Although considerable progress has been achieved, it is important to appeal for more consultations, coordination and better communications of initiatives and all the internal reform process,” Lukman said.

Kano State Government to build 5000 houses for teachers

Zainab Sa'id
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The Kano State government has concluded plans to construct about 5000 housing units for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state, under the first phase of a scheme aimed at providing decent accommodation for teachers and their families.

The scheme, tagged Teachers Reserved Areas (TRA), will be implemented jointly by the state government, Family Homes Funds and the Federal Mortgage Bank, according to the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The governor announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Kano on the proposed project, explaining that each of the 36 rural local governments will have 100 housing units while the remaining eight metropolitan local governments will have 150 housing units each.

“The state government would provide the land, auxiliary facilities such as water, electricity and roads while other aspects would be handled by the partners.” Governor Ganduje said.

The governor, however, pointed out that participation in the scheme, which would commence next year, is optional and the beneficiaries would pay for the houses in easy instalments.

Dr Ganduje stated that his administration is concerned about ensuring affordability of and access to houses for the teachers so that they do not become destitute when they retire from active service.

He said a technical committee under the Executive Chairman of the State Policy Coordination and Policy Implementation Directorate, Alh. Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi has been set up to fashion out modalities for smooth implementation of the project.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the State Policy Coordination and Policy Implementation Directorate, Alh. Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi maintained that the teachers housing initiative was to complement the state Free and Compulsory Education Policy.

“The last time houses were built for teachers in Kano was during the days of the Native Authority. The government would tap into available resources at Federal financial institutions, to make the dream a reality.” Bichi said.

On his part, the representative of Family Homes Funds, Engr. Musa Shu’aibu Mukhtar explained that his agency was willing to work with the government of Kano state to provide decent and affordable accommodation for teachers, adding that the project would create thousands of jobs in the state.

Lagos monarch pledges to secure property rights of allottees

Zainab Sa'id
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The Oniru of Iru land Lagos, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, says the focus of his kingship is on the security of the property rights of allottees in the kingdom.

Oba Lawal who was speaking at the commissioning of the Oniru Chieftaincy Family Estate Office located on Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, noted that adequate security of the property rights of allottees is one of the indicators of a friendly investment planet.

He explained that the commissioning of the Office was to assure all sons and daughters of Iru land that their landed properties would never be devalued under his reign.

The Oniru noted that the chieftaincy family estate office would see to the progress and challenges of the allottees on issues relating to real estate, buying of lands as well as environmental concerns across Iru Land.

“We have come here today to officially commission the Oniru Chieftaincy Family Estate Office. This is in compliance with the family’s authority in place.

“It is important to also note that the family used to have a property company but it dissolved and the power of attorney of the company has been revoked by the Kabiyesi and the family head of the three ruling houses- Abisogun, Akiogun and Ogunyemi ruling houses.

“This is the office that will now see to the challenges, issues and progress of the allottees. As a matter of fact, security of property rights which is one of the indicators of a friendly investment planet is what this office will focus on.

“Instead of us using another company, we resolved that the family should run its affairs by sons and daughters of Iru land,” he said.

More comfort

According to Oba Lawal, the chieftaincy estate office would grant investors an unrivalled convenience as well as letting investors, both present and prospective to know that Iru Land was customer-centric.

He also mentioned that the office would put all issues related to allottees first by giving them a conducive environment to conduct their businesses and transactions.

The Oniru who acknowledged that the infrastructure in Iru Land needed to be up-scaled while the existing ones are regenerated, however, noted that the office was already in discussion with the Lagos State Government to ensure that all the 3,043 residents under the watch of Iru Estate have access to potable water.

Oniru said: “The benefit of this place generally is investors’ convenience. It is important to let our allottees know that we are customer-centric. In this case, our allottees are our customers, we gave the title, we made agreements with them and so, they are our customers.

“We want to assure them that we have not come to devalue their properties or hijack their properties. We want to make them know that under my watch, I will never do anything to reduce the value of their properties at any point in time.

“You must have seen the level of infrastructures on ground, we need to upscale the infrastructure and regenerate the existing infrastructure.

He assured all allottees, Lagosians and Nigerians in general as well as sons and daughters of Iru land that it is a new beginning that would be beneficial to all, including residents, indigenes and non-indigenes.

Experience counts

Also speaking at the occasion was the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Urban Development, Mr Ganiyu Ayuba who appreciated the passion, expertise and experience that the Monarch will bring to bear for the development of the kingdom.

According to him “Security, infrastructure and environment are the focal points of governance; If the Kabiyesi can assist in coordinating his kingdom like this, then we are excited and we enjoin all other traditional rulers to emulate him.”

Increasing confidence

The Managing Director, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Estate Office, Prince Musiliu Ajasa also stated that office was created solely with the residents and investors in mind.

Ajasa stated that the essence of the office was to increase stakeholders’ confidence in the affairs of the estate, particularly on issues such as security, infrastructure, environment and sanitation, among others.

He said that Iru Land had a working vision and as such had commenced the implementation of some policies and projects such as rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads within the estate, construction of a well-equipped health centre of international standard.

Another member of the Oniru ruling houses, Prince Olumide Oniru, said that the idea behind the office was to speed up development adding that the office would be technologically driven and well-mannered.

He noted that the affairs of the office would transcend beyond the present as it would be about future prosperity and development of Iru kingdom.

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